Richard Donner’s The Goonies is an exciting, adventure-filled children’s movie reminiscent of Indiana Jones and Poltergeist that will capture children of all ages and…
Richard Donner’s The Goonies is an exciting, adventure-filled children’s movie reminiscent of Indiana Jones and Poltergeist that will capture children of all ages and appeal to both kids and parents alike. Starring an ensemble cast largely unknown at the time (but who remain so today), The Goonies provides a fun, ingenious, entertaining adventure which will delight both audiences young and old.
The Goonies centers around a group of children living in “Goon Docks”, who find their homes are about to be foreclosed upon by real estate developers. Hoping to save their homes, the children find an old map leading them toward pirate One-Eyed Willy’s treasure; hoping it might save their homes Mikey leads his gang of asthmatic leader Brand and Chunk the fat kid, along with wisecracking Asian inventive genius Data (Anne Ramsey, Joe Pantoliano, Robert Davi) on this journey they encounter an abandoned cliff-side restaurant that acts as shelter for criminal family Mama (Anne Ramsey Joe Pantoliano Robert Davi).
As they explore deeper into the old restaurant’s underground tunnels in search of treasure, the Goonies discover booby traps everywhere they turn – compounded with the presence of Fratellis on their trail. Luckily for them, however, some strong allies exist among their ranks such as Sloth (John Matuszak), an unofficial eighth Goonie with hilariously vindictive tendencies; his antics include always talking about food while simultaneously sucking booby traps through his teeth!
Sloth’s quick wit aside, Sloth also has an uncanny talent for discovering treasure and saving people from danger. His scene where he rescues kidnapped Mama Fratelli off a plank of ship by lifting her with his tricone is memorable as are his comments regarding booby traps that have trapped him within tunnels.
Chris Columbus’ script may sometimes falter in its breathless, overlapping dialogue and use of four-letter words, which may disconcert younger audiences, but The Goonies makes up for these shortcomings with its fast pacing and sense of fun. Children will enjoy this thrilling adventure that they won’t soon forget; adults may wonder why all the kids talk like that or if the cavernous waterslide really is as spectacular as it appears to be.